AMERICAN FREE ENTERPRISE DAY RECOGNIZES FOUR BUSINESS STUDENTS

November 2018

Palm Beach Atlantic University recognized four business students with scholarships at its American Free Enterprise Day ceremonies Nov. 8.

This year marked the 33rd year of the event, which honored community business leaders who put into practice the principles of free enterprise in their lives and careers. It also has become a day to encourage future business leaders by conferring scholarships.

Eva Bracciale of Royal Palm Beach, Florida, received the Col. Marty Trauger Scholarship. Bracciale is a junior majoring in marketing. She is a presidential ambassador and the president of PBA's Collegiate Chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA PBA). She is also a protégé in the business mentorship program and involved with the Titus Center for Franchising. In addition, she has served as a student speaker for the Board of Trustees luncheon and for Scholarship Day.

The scholarship was established by Col. Trauger who spent 30 years in the U.S. Army, retiring in 1970 as a colonel and deputy commandant of the U.S. Army Quartermaster School at Fort Lee, Virginia. He then launched a new career at Palm Beach Atlantic as an assistant professor of business administration, teaching economics and marketing, while serving as the director of financial aid. Col. Trauger designed PBA’s course in American Free Enterprise. He was named distinguished professor of business administration in 1988, and in 1991 he became professor emeritus of business administration.

Alexander Furjanic of Waterloo, Nebraska, received the James & Annie Erneston Scholarship. A junior, Furjanic is majoring in ministry and business management.

The scholarship was established by Steve Scalici ’95 and his wife Apryl Scalici ’96 in recognition of the Ernestons’ good works, generosity and faithfulness.

The Ernestons themselves were honored during the 2010 American Free Enterprise event as companion medalists. James Erneston is a founder and the president of J & J Produce Inc., a year-round grower and distributor of fruit and vegetables along the East Coast. He and Annie, his wife of more than four decades, grew J & J Produce into the institution it is today.

Anthony Burtrum of Maitland, Florida, received the Southern Self Storage Scholarship. Burtrum is a junior business management major and has been involved with club lacrosse and The Anchor, a student-led worship service. He is currently studying abroad at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, where he is helping lead and explore a Christianity course called ALPHA.

The scholarship was established by Southern Self Storage owners Robert A. McIntosh and Peter V. Cowie, who received PBA’s American Free Enterprise Companion Medal in 1999.

Chalsea Bent of West Palm Beach, Florida, received the Susan L. Petersen Scholarship. She is a senior majoring in accounting. During her junior year, she was a member of American Marketing Association.

The scholarship was established by Misty Travani and Darline Richter in honor of their friend and mentor Suzy Petersen, who led the way for women in the accounting industry and championed the advancement of women in accounting throughout her career. Petersen received the AFE Companion Medal in 1987 as did Travani and Richter in 2008.